Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 80197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Mom lays her face in her hands for a few seconds, then straightens again. "That is not a woman who will be a nurturing mother for a child, especially if she resents or hates the father. Travis, you need to see the next few months as a possible investment in your child's safety. If it's not your baby, you can walk away."
"But he can't go back to Germany," Gab moans. "He just found a new job…he just signed for a new apartment."
"None of that compares to his responsibility for a child."
Nausea surges, filling my mouth with saliva, which I swallow. I push my hands over my head and blow out a long, ragged breath. Celine's eyes are filled with unshed tears. She rests her hand on my knee, and I reach for it, holding it so tightly, I expect her to complain, but she doesn't.
"I have to go," I say eventually. "She's not going to back down. You don't know what she's like. If I don't go now, and it is my child, she's going to make it suffer for being a part of me."
"She can't do that," Celine pleads, but I can tell she doesn't believe her own words. Even though she only met Lina for a few minutes, she knows. Mom knows, too. How I didn't see it before, I don't know. I'm an idiot who was blinded by her brilliant smile and stark beauty. I wanted to believe that a girl like that could love me. It sounds pathetic now.
"You and Gab should go to the gym. I need some time to think." Celine's hand drops from my knee, and the loss of connection with her aches.
"I want to stay."
I reach out to take her hand in mine. "You should go. I need to talk to Mom."
"Take a muffin each," Mom suggests weakly.
Celine meets Gab's eyes, and she nods. "We'll come back after," she says.
I touch Celine's cheek, my heart aching now I'm having to push her away. "I'm sorry."
She covers my cheek with her hand. "You have nothing to be sorry for, Travis. You made a mistake. Now you have to deal with it. We're all here to support you, whatever you decide."
I want her to tell me she'll wait for me. I want her to tell me that the happiness I felt when I was with her isn't something I'm about to lose to return to a life that fills me with misery and dread. But none of that is fair. Celine has come out of a tough situation of her own. She doesn't need to be dragged into my drama.
Mom stands and presents Celine and Gab with their muffins, and they take that as a sign to leave. When they've gone, I stand, intending to hide out in my room to try to come to terms with all the ways my life is about to change, but Mom doesn't let me. Instead, she pulls me into a long hug and tells me that everything will be okay.
I wish I could believe her.
21
CELINE
After the gym, I go back to Gabriella's house, expecting to see Travis. There is so much I want to say to him that I couldn't with an audience. I want to hear what's in his heart and help him find a way through this terrible situation. But when we return, Gabriella's mom is crying on the phone, and she tells us through sobs that Travis has gone out. Gab calls Dalton, but he hasn't heard from Travis. It's the same with Kain and Blake. They're all so worried when they listen to what's happening, but worry isn't going to find Travis or solve his problems.
"Where do you think he's gone?" Gab shakes her head and shrugs, which is zero help. I want to scream and find that woman so I can scratch out her eyes. Who the fuck does she think she is, threatening Travis that way? She needs to be taken down a peg or fifteen.
Shit.
The prospect of Travis leaving tomorrow to return to Germany hurts my heart so severely that I have to press my hand to my chest to contain the ache.
Gab drives me back to my dorm, and I shower and try to catch up on an assignment that's due, but I can't concentrate. For the first time since Travis, Elias, and Dornan agreed to play my stupid revenge games, I feel alone.
I didn't realize how much having them all in my life meant to me.
I didn't realize that letting any of them go would hurt worse than finding out Eddie had made a fool of me.
I send Dornan and Elias a quick message, asking them if they're free. Both reply to say they have practice but can meet me after. I don't tell them about Travis. I'll wait to do that in person. Instead, I agree to meet them near the locker room. Time moves so slowly, I want to scream.